Sept. 12, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. -
After coming off its top-five finish in last weekend's Fairway Club Invitational, the Illinois State men's golf team looks to keep the momentum rolling Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 15-16) in the Kansas Invitational at Alvamar Golf Club. The two-day event will feature 16 teams and a 54-hole format, with 36-holes scheduled for Monday and 18-holes slated for Tuesday.
Tommy Bliefnick led the Redbirds at the Fairway Club Invitational, firing a 3-over-par 147 (75-72) to tie for eighth-place. Joe Emerich also had a strong outing by shooting in red numbers on the second day, shooting 149 (79-70) to finish in a tie for 18th-place.
Head coach Ray Kralis is proud of his team's effort and excited about the upcoming tournament.
"This is a big tournament and a great opportunity for us," said Kralis. "We are in a very competitive field and if we stay in the present, and play one hole at a time, I think we can do quite well."
The Redbird lineup will include Bliefnick, Emerich, Will Cullen, Jeff Kellen and Ben Murphy.
The Alvamar Club Invitational field includes Cleveland State, Houston, Kansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Nebraska, North Texas, Oklahoma City University, Rice, South Dakota State, TCU, UMKC, University of California-Davis and Western Kentucky. The Missouri Valley Conference teams competing are Evansville and Northern Iowa.
Houston won the Kansas Invitational last year with a three-round total of 888, while Jordan Irwin of Houston was the individual medalist, recording a score of 215.
